Mr. Michael D. Trader

Mike Trader, 52, of Camp Virgil Tate Road, Charleston, died Wednesday, January 30, after a sudden illness. A native of Cross Lanes, he was born November 10, 1960. He attended Faith Missionary Baptist Church in St. Albans. He was a 1979 graduate of Nitro High School, and a 1984 graduate of West Virginia State College. He was an auto estimator for State Farm Insurance, with 28 years of service. Prior to that, he was employed by Kroger of Cross Lanes for 11 years. He served as a Director of the Kanawha County Farm Bureau; he was a Board Member of the Kanawha County 4-H Foundation; and a member of the Rocky Mountain Horse Association. "Trader" had a passion for, and a gift with horses. He and his wife Sheila enjoyed countless hours riding the trails on the farm they built together and loved, known as Soggy Bottom Farm. The also loved to travel with their horses and camp and explore riding trails across the country. He trained horses and gave lessons using gentle natural horsemanship methods. He was an avid outdoorsman, and loved hunting and fishing. He also loved vintage cars and enjoyed going to cruise-ins in his '60 T-Bird. He loved bluegrass music. Trader was a story teller and a master fix-it, loved life, never knew a stranger, was loved by all who knew him and was a friend to all. He was always there for anybody who needed him for anything. He had the biggest heart. His family and friends were the most important aspect of his life. He loved his wife Sheila and children Lesley and Seth with all his being. He was preceded in death by his mother Audrey Hyer Trader, of Cross Lanes; Father, Joseph Edward Trader, of Kanawha County; Maternal Grandparents John and Addie Hyer of Duck, WV. Paternal Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Stevens, of Cross Lanes. He is survived by his wife of 27 years Sheila Parsons Trader; Daughter, Lesley Gayle Trader; Son, Seth Michael Trader at home; their companions Eric Robinson and Brittany Adkins; Sisters Margaret Hyer of Shantilly, Va.; Jeanne Johnson of Cross Lanes; Brother, Eddie Trader, of Indiana; Aunt Ann and Uncle Elmo Blum, of Herculaneum, Missouri; Mother-in-law Helen Hall Parsons; Father-in-law Carl Parsons and his wife Sandra; Brothers-in-law Mike and Matina Parsons of Hurricane; Patrick Parsons and Renie Stack of Woodruff, SC; Sister-in-law, Lisa and Bruce Lawson of Charleston; Nieces and Nephews Pam and Mark Collins; Aaron Johnson; Clint Parsons, Austin Parsons, Lucas Parsons, Haley Parsons, Noah Lawson, and Josie Lawson and countless cousins. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home, 5233 Rocky Fork Road, Cross Lanes, or one hour prior to the service. The service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at the funeral home. Pastor Mike Hager of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, of St. Albans, and Rev. Dave Thaxton of Bible Baptist Church of Sissonville will be officiating. Burial will follow at Goff-McClanahan Cemetery, Kelly's Creek. In lieu in flowers, contributions may be made to Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Rt. 60, St. Albans, 25177.